Gemshorn

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On of the earliest forms of recorders was made of a cow horn with fingerholes and a fipple inserted at the wide end. It only had a range of one octave and was called a "Gemshorn". The word "gemshorn" comes from the German meaning "Goat's horn" and probably was given that name because the earliest gemshorns were made from the horn of a mountain goat. During the 15th century they named an organ stop after it, which gives you an idea of how popular an instrument it was at the time.
Marcus on the Bass Gemshorn
For the Mac (AIFF) 188K or (SND) 188K
For the PC (WAV) 188K
For the Unix (AU) 188K
RealAudio (RA) 18K
 
Marcus on the Soprano Gemshorn
For the Mac (AIFF) 165K or (SND) 165K
For the PC (WAV) 165K
For the Unix (AU) 165K
RealAudio (RA) 18K


(Top photo courtesy of Jonathan M. Askey at website The London Early Music Shop - see credits)
(Bottom photo courtesy of Jim Hill at website Lark in the Morning - see credits)
(Sounds courtesy of Jim Hill at website Lark in the Morning - see credits)
 

References:
Buchner, Dr. Alexander (translated by Iris Urwin). Musical Instruments Through the Ages. Batchworth Press Limited, London, England, 1961.
Hill, Jim. "Lark in the Morning". http://www.larkinam.com/ (20 June 1996)
 
Hindley, Geoffrey (ed.). The Larousse Encyclopedia of Music. Excalibur Books, New York, 1982.


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Authors: The VirRen Team led by C.S.Marszalek & B.Panagakis
Created: 8 August 1996; Modified: 23 August 2004